Private jet ownership in Nigeria has grown by 650 percent, from 20 jets in 2007 to over 150 jets in 2012. That this is alarming will be an understatement. I will say little wonder the figures of corruption have gone past the skies.
In a country of about 160 million people, with over 100 million living on less than $2 per day, someone gets a $40 million bombardier jet as birthday gift from members of congregation and we are expected to assume that all is well. What happened to the unemployed in that church and those who can barely afford to eat one good meal per day? How come they were bye-passed to "bless" the Pastor who obviously is not suffering?
It will be worthy to note that the average cost of maintaining a private jet is about $550,000 a year......Who will foot this bill?? Not to forget that the cost of maintaining a private jet surpasses the cost of buying one on the long run.
Can someone now do the mathematics of how many schools and health facilities you could get for the price of a private jet? I would have thought investing into people's future and ensuring the mortality rate is kept minimal would be paramount in the scheme of things. How do private jets guarantee us a better Nigeria?
Nigeria now has more private jets with NO single National carrier. What real economic activity supports this "growth"? Is this where Madam Okonjo Iweala draws her economics of "growth" from? It amazes me when they come out with their paper economic growth whose impact the common man cannot feel. Their propaganda makes me laugh because I know the world is laughing us to scorn.
In a country where people are dying everyday because of government’s negligence, that individuals think it best to acquire private jets in making a statement that they are not better off than the government itself calls for much concern.
More than 35percent of the factories in Ilupeju, Ikeja, Oregun and Agege-Iju industrial areas have been taken over by churches and our young men are out there on the streets jobless. This is more than alarming because as it, we are gradually mortgaging our future under the guise of sentiments. I mean what economy thrives in unemployment and decline in industrialization?
I mean, why would this shameful statistics be staring us in the face despite the abundance which surrounds us both natural and intellectual wise? What better conviction that what we need more in this country is a mind revolution?
It is high time we woke up from this mental bondage which is far worse than being in physical chains.
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